The Road We Travel
Reflections on a tragic accident in Africa
A few weeks ago, we heard a report of a truck on an African highway in Tanzania that lost its brakes and smashed into a bus carrying several Youth With A Mission staff. Shocked and saddened, we watched and prayed for our friends and colleagues in our Executive Masters in Leadership course with the University of the Nations. Were they okay?
The tragic news came within a few days. The bus was instantly crushed. I learned that eleven YWAM missionaries were killed. Several others were severely wounded. One of those who died was Lovanambinina Ranaivoarinoro (Lova), a YWAM Campus Ministry and Training Base leader in Madagascar. Lova was a significant leader who started as a YWAMer at the very first Discipleship Training School in Madagascar. He is survived by his wife, Olivia, and their two children. I wrote to Olivia as soon as I heard the news. She responded immediately: “Thank you so much. We need your prayers. It's so hard and painful.”
Reflections
This shocking loss and sadness is like a gut punch. Like gasping for air, I’ve thought about the extended family of fellow believers and servants of Jesus that I’ve known and loved. I’ve been reflecting on life’s fragility and permanence. I’ve thought of these faithful ministers of the gospel and the fruit of their lives. I’ve been thinking about God’s enduring call.
All of YWAM and many others grieve the loss of our friends and pray for the families and communities affected. I write this today as Lova’s memorial services are taking place in Madagascar. I taught Lova and several other Malagasy YWAMers in our School of University Ministries in South Korea in 2010. That training, including my teaching about God’s calling, helped strengthen and multiply university ministries all over that fourth-largest island nation along the South East Coast of Africa.
Memories endure
Life is fragile, but in Christ, it is also eternal. It’s what we do with this life that matters. Whether young or old, stop to reflect on the road you are traveling—the highs, the lows, and the multitude of experiences in between. Amid the busyness of life, don’t fail to take account of significant memories, the moments that have defined you. Those pivotal moments shape us and inform us of our calling.
We can’t always hear God’s calling, just as we don’t naturally see God. Calling is not primarily about hearing an audible voice or seeing an extraordinary sign. Calling is about knowing our identity in Christ and His purpose for us. But we are hindered from hearing, and obstacles get in the way of our vision. Paul writes to the church in Ephesus, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you” (Eph. 1:18). Paul understood that our vision could be blocked. We can get stuck.
Are you stuck?
If God is calling us and our life’s events are God’s way of informing us of our purpose, then our memories are important. Some memories are difficult to recall, some haunt us, and others are blocked out for whatever reason. Memories are often laced with pain, sorrow, guilt, and regret; many are traumatic. Traumatic memories are why we get stuck.
While teaching about God’s calling, I tell the story of Moses at the burning bush. Moses was a fugitive who was not fulfilling God’s design and purpose for his life. God invited Moses into an intimate relationship. God introduced Himself to Moses and shared his heart for his people suffering in Egypt. From that place of intimacy, Moses encountered God’s character and nature; He is holy. After many years of teaching thousands of university students about God’s calling, God met me with an even deeper understanding. Let’s look again at Moses.
Moses was stuck
Moses had trauma. He was put in a basket on the Nile River. He was raised by a tyrant king who enslaved and murdered his people. One day, Moses popped. He killed a man. He was a murderer. He had an anger issue. We know that anger remained even after many years of knowing God. He struck a rock in anger. He had a fear issue. He was a fugitive from the most powerful man on the planet. In hiding, he would not do what he was trained to do. Instead of building a city in the wilderness, Moses cared for his father-in-law’s sheep. What struck me about Moses is his trauma. He was filled with pain.
How does God call us?
God sees, God hears, God knows our stories. God knows why we run, hide, lie, rage, and cry. When God said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering” (Exo. 3:7), He was telling Moses that he was not alone in his pain. God also carries the pain and suffering we experience. And it is in this place of pain that God calls us.
Your story may be very different from a missionary on an African highway. Whether it's the joy of starting a family, the fulfillment of a successful career, or the wisdom acquired through hardships, your experiences contribute to the tapestry of your life. God knows your story, even if you have forgotten. God knows your trauma, the moments when you were hurt, neglected, abused, or abandoned. He knows why you run, hide, lie, rage, or cry. God can meet you in your story and clarify your calling if you allow Him.
WHO I AM: Weekend Intensive
Because God met me in my story, I have revised what I teach, primarily what I teach from 2 Peter 1:3-10. We have created the WHO I AM weekend intensive for young adults and university students. On that weekend, participants examine their stories to remove obstacles to identity and purpose. Through short messages, assessments, activities, exercises, and story group discussions, participants discover God’s calling and how they can be effective and productive in their relationship with God.
That teaching outline is as follows:
Faith: Stop running to find the rest of faith,
Virtue: Come out of hiding to be known for who you are,
Knowledge: Stop lying to come to the understanding of the truth,
Self-Control: Stop raging so you can yield in community,
Perseverance: Stop crying/mourn losses so you can comfort and intercede for others,
Godliness: Stop legalism so you can stand humbly before the audience of One,
Brotherly-Kindness: Stop lawlessness so you can genuinely love neighbors,
Love: Crucify self-idolatry to spread the aroma of God’s Love.
What comes next?
Those who complete a weekend intensive may need more personalized ministry. We offer Transformational Prayer through our M.E.L.T. process (memories, emotions, lies, truth) to help people find deep healing from emotional trauma.
Others who complete the weekend seek to get active in ministry immediately through our Missional Table program, DISCIPLE Course, or Converge Internship/Fellowship. We offer opportunities for participants to have a global impact, transcend geographical boundaries, and help others become unstuck so they can fulfill their calling.
Travel on your road
We invite you to partner with the missionary work of our YWAM staff members. No matter what road you are traveling through life, you can contribute to global outreaches or help us engage university communities. Even if you are an older Christian, you can make a difference today. Your experience, wisdom, and resources make up your story. And your story is related to your calling from God. Your contributions, be they big or small, can bring hope, healing, and transformation to individuals and communities around the globe. This is the essence of living out our faith and making a tangible difference in the world—no matter what road we travel today.
John Henry